WATCH: Asafo Aumua sets up Hurricanes try in Super Rugby Pacific victory over Reds

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Asafo Aumua left his stamp on the Hurricanes’ 47-13 triumph over the Reds when he delivered a brilliant try assist in their Super Rugby Pacific clash in Townsville on Saturday.

Aumua, who started the match on the bench, entered the fray as a half-time replacement for fellow All Blacks hooker Dane Coles and it did not take long for him to make an impact in the match.

With the Hurricanes holding a 23-13 lead, Aumua caught the home side’s defence napping with a pick-and-go in the 54th minute.

The 25-year-old shrugged off two opponents midway between the halfway line and the Reds‘ 22 and drew in another defender before offloading to Cam Roigard, who had an easy run-in under the posts.

Jordie Barrett converted the try, which seemed to knock the wind out of the hosts’ sails as the Hurricanes finished stronger.

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The men from Wellington went on to score 24 unanswered points during the next 25 minutes as Jamie Booth, Julian Savea and Tyrel Lomax all crossed the whitewash, with Barrett succeeding with one more two-pointer.

Earlier, the Reds raced into a 6-0 lead courtesy of two Tom Lynagh penalties which gave them a 6-0 by the 12th minute, but the Hurricanes were level midway through the half when Barrett succeeded with a couple of two-pointers off the kicking tee as well.

A Jordan Petaia five-pointer, which Lynagh converted, gave the Reds a 13-6 lead by the 30th minute, but the Hurricanes drew level shortly afterwards when Billy Proctor crossed for their first converted try. Barrett then added another penalty in the 35th minute, which gave his side a 16-13 half-time lead.

The Hurricanes upped the ante after the break and were rewarded with a penalty try before Aumua‘s try assist became the catalyst for their second-half dominance, which set up a deserved Super Rugby Pacific victory.

Video credit: Super Rugby Pacific

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